copyright: OBK
Investigation of bathing waters
This page was translated from German using artificial intelligence. The translation may contain errors or inaccuracies. In case of doubt, the German original version prevails.
The bathing waters in the Oberbergischer Kreis are examined every four weeks according to the criteria of the EU Bathing Water Directive and the NRW Bathing Water Ordinance. The health department evaluates each sample and determines whether there are any complaints or not. If there are complaints, the department decides to what extent further measures are required.
In addition to microbiological parameters, which are invisible to the human eye, visible hygiene factors such as algae growth, water discoloration, and visibility depth also play a role in the health department's assessment.
Microbiological Parameters
Escherichia Coli (E.coli)
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Intestinal bacteria excreted by animals and humans
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Easy to detect
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Clear indicator of fecal contamination
When detected:
It is reasonable to assume that fecal matter has introduced pathogens into the water.
Enterococci
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Occur in the intestines of humans and animals
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Do not multiply in water
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More resistant to environmental influences compared to E. coli and coliform bacteria - higher persistence (durability) -
When detected:
Indicates a longer-standing fecal contamination
EU Bathing Waters
The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission (EC) publish an annual report on the quality of bathing waters in Europe. The report assesses the quality of bathing water from the previous bathing season. The assessment includes analyses of water samples taken from over 21,000 coastal and inland bathing sites.
In the Oberbergischer Kreis, the Aggertal, Brucher, Bever, and Lingesetalsperre are classified as EU bathing waters and are approved for swimming. During the bathing season, from mid-May to mid-September, the health department of the Oberbergischer Kreis collects and evaluates water samples. The results are incorporated into the EEA and EC report.
